build your shortcuts to the max
Posted By: longtime mt on 2005-12-19
In Reply to: Come on, guys - surely someone can - tell us how they get their lines? sm
it's ALL about your shortcuts. you have to shorten every word, phrase, not just medical ones, regular English too, assuming you transcribe for someone who SPEAKS English!! 
I have been using the same shortcut program for 10+ years and I STILL add things to it almost daily. 1st rule is if the shortcut doesn't just pop in your head, keep typing and don't think about it. it has to come to you automatically. then you have to be creative. example - I have this one doc who constantly says "once this was done" so I have that in as OTWD. "The patient tolerated the procedure well" is PATOL. I have things like ADP for adenopathy, then you have to expand that on further to be LADP for lymphadenopathy, AADP for axillary adenopathy, etc. if you have one doc who says some phrase constantly, even if it is only one doc, if you type him every day, make it a shortcut. I have typed in "codes" for so long they are drilled in my brain. I'll look at a license plate and it will say RSD456, my brain says "reflex sympathetic dystrophy." the longer you use it the bigger it will get and pretty soon you're typing all shortcuts and not much else.
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She's asking for *keyboard* shortcuts, not mouse shortcuts. Huge difference. nm
nm
She's asking for *keyboard* shortcuts, not mouse shortcuts. nm
nm
Build-a-pc
Get the best sound card you can. My first computer had a cheapy sound card and it caused all kinds of problems. Make a list of all you want/need to do with your computer and talk to the techies about it. They will be able to make suggestions. And be sure you have Microsoft Word and probably Word Perfect, just to cover all bases. Maybe a cd burner to easily make back-up discs of system and to make discs of info if that should ever be necessary.
you build and add yourself
It is a different style of system. You use the first letter of each word in your phrase so there is no memorizing, you can't forget the sequence of the phrase you are looking for. it is annoying having the screen at the bottom, but i just show the first 5 lines. you get used to it real quick. I love it.
I build my own also. So does my son. It's so (sm)
very nice when we build pc for customers and present them with the finished product. The smiles on their faces when they see that they received exactly what they wanted/ordered is priceless.
there is no way a new MT can build sm
a Medical Phrase Index like the one in print. That book is a great teaching tool and a lot quicker than asking questions on the Word Board and waiting for an answer! Seems to me folks don't want to do the work and research anymore to become a good MT and want everyone else to do their work for them.
if you know what you want get a geek to build you one
Cheaper and better! Not mention you'll know who to call and whether or not they speak English...;)
If you live in the Seattle area, try this link:
http://www.dresch.org/web/dcs/default.asp?c=1
I know him and his work - he'll put a 'puter together to your specifications and it'll be far superior to Dell (or anyone else, plus cost a lot less money)
what are you trying to do, build another city...
please go down about four posts and see the one titled "It never fails to amaze me" and see what happened to that train of thought and the responses to the same. You might get a clue to your answer. Have a great day. 
Are you using an expander? Build up
you're macros/normals. I'm able to batch my work. I type all my reports in each batch and then I go back and relisten to each report, but I turn the speed up so they sound like the Chipmunks. I feel like it goes faster than reading each report, and I find that I'm able to catch errors that I wouldn't have caught by just reading the report.
He can build it. Just keep reciepts. nm
:+
Here's how I've build my own expander-ese:
For multiples, I use numbers based on several criteria. For example, my related Expanders may be 'abc1, abc2, abc3'.
I may use the most-used phrase as #1, less-used as #2, least-used as #3, etc.
Or, I may base it on the length of the phrase - shortest phrase 1st, longer 2nd, longest 3rd.
Or, I sometimes use the numbers to signify tense or multiples. If ABC stood for, let's say, 'abdominal clamp', I may assign them s follows:
abc1 - abdominal clamp
abc2 - abdominal clamps
abc3 - abdominal clamping
That's just a 'fer-instance', but you get the idea.
ALSO: I use my auto-correct as my expander, so space in it isn't limitless. To make one abbreviation go further, type it in lower case. Example:
'dx' - for 'diagnosis'.
When you type in 'dx' in lower-case, you'll get 'diagnosis'. Type the first letter capitalized ('Dx'), and you'll get 'Diagnosis'. Type it in all-caps ('DX'), and you'll get 'DIAGNOSIS'! Three abbreviations in one!
Hope that helped!
:)
Temporary dog house is easy to build.
Take a large cardboard box, cover outside of it with multiple sections of newspaper, then tape large plastic sheets (open up garbage sacks) over it. It is well insulated against cold and wet.
I try not to pressure myself so I don't get that way. I build up speed naturally. -nm
x
Get a custom build from a local place.
I don't know about the Macs compatibility though. I had my computer custom built through a local place and am so glad I need. My kids have done things to this computer that no one has ever seen or been able to quite figure out how they did it but the local placed fixed me right up and they keep companies of all my program disks in case I have a complete crash and need to reformat the beasts. They also custom built an HP laptop which I love, love, love.
I believe most of the MT software programs have a build it "cannot edit"
mechanism,so that once a document has been signed; electronically or otherwise, it cannot be altered. Regarding Addundums, if you were not the original Transcriptionist who typed the document, most companies want you to bypass it in the pool, which will then be reassigned to the original tramscriptionist. It's not good company policy reading and or making an addenda to anyone else's report other than your own.
I believe most of the MT software programs have a build it "cannot edit"
mechanism,so that once a document has been signed; electronically or otherwise, it cannot be altered. Regarding Addundums, if you were not the original Transcriptionist who typed the document, most companies want you to bypass it in the pool, which will then be reassigned to the original tramscriptionist. It's not good company policy reading and or making an addenda to anyone else's report other than your own.
Personally, I would prefer to build my own list versus
using a premade list. If you build it yourself, you know what's in there and you use a system that is comfortable for you. It takes time, but it's well worth it. Quite frankly, I think this smacks of wanting someone else to do the hard work for you, taking the easy way.
No idea...in 3+ years when we build I wil figure it out....probably a wolf theme
xx
New giveaway! $50 Build A Bear Bucks, see sticky post above.
/
Elaine Johnson of Boise, Idaho, you won the Build A Bear Bucks!
Email to admin@mtstars.com with your full mailing address and we will send you your gift.
I use ShortCuts and like it.
nm
I use shortcuts
shortcuts for windows. much faster and costs less. if you put a whole report in it, it will take a few seconds too spill out, but still faster than shorthand.
shortcuts
I use shortcuts to the max but what do you do if the doctor dictates in abbreviations? For example continually says CHF for congestive heart failure, etc. Do you type the abbrev? or spell it out?
SHORTCUTS
I, too, don't know what shortcuts for Windows are. Can someone help me?
Shortcuts
I am a longtime MT but have just converted to employee status (am so sick of the tax thing). Anyway I have never really used a lot of shortcuts (just the Autocorrect in Word) but now that I have to do more lines to make the same amt of money I need some tips on creating shortcuts so I can produce more lines an hour. Thanks ladies (and gents!)
No, just using shortcuts
with Auto Correct. We have a few doctors who have their own "normals", but 99% straight typing, proofing as I go.
Shortcuts?
Ok, I can try. Tell me step-by-step how I would do this. Nothing ventured..... Thanks
Re: Shortcuts
Hi mt'er -
I am curious as to why you would need a book on shortcuts or macros. Everybody is different, thinks different, types certain keys with ease more than others, etc. You have to do what works for YOU. I've been an MT for 15 years or so and I add shortcuts to AutoCorrect daily. For me, if I type the first three letters or consonants of a word I remember it easily. For a phrsae such as "heart and mediastinal contours are within normal limits" I'd use "ham". "Please see discussion above" = "pda", etc. Some doctors dictate the same thing for normal exams. I use the doctor's first three letters of their last name then the first few letters of whatever exam they are dictating. Becoming proficient at using macros and shortcuts is seeing what works for the way you think and type. Make shortcuts for EVERYTHING! "There is" - "ths", "are" = "rr" (it's easier/quicker to type two identical letters rather than take your fingers off a key. For shortcuts that are pleurals, I use the last letter twice: "demonstrate" = "dem", "demonstrates" = "demm". The less you move your fingers off the keys, the faster you will go. The more you use your techniques, the easier it becomes for you to develop your own shortcuts with your own technique that is easy for you to remember. Macro every month of the year for dates, macro the year "2007", whatever can be turned into less Keystrokes is beneficial.
Save your hard-earned $$ and your time and work out a system for YOU!
shortcuts sm
I know how you feel, but unfortunately you must go by the rules of whomever is paying you or the client of theirs. I have had clients that marked my reports incorrect when using the BOS, they want it their way or the highway. Don't take it personally, just go along to get alone. Been there, done it, hate it!!
I use WP5.1 with XP and Shortcuts
and so I can use the expansions i saved in Shortcuts for DOS in WP5.1 with XP but I cannot access Shortcuts nor can I add things to Shortcuts via XP (unless I get the Shortcuts for XP) and I cannot access MACROS but can use the MACROS in WP5.1 that I saved for a long long time....
hope you all understand my post....I use WP5.1 with Shortcuts for DOS in WIN XP but cannot add anything to Shortcuts nor add anything to my WP5.1 macros but can use all I saved prior to going on XP last year. It all works out....
I have my shortcuts set up
as 1y, 2y, 3y, all the way up to 100, where it expands to 1-year-old for 1y. I know most don't do that, but it got around the space problem you are talking about.
Anyone tried these shortcuts?
Has anyone ever set up a keyboard shortcut system like this one at this website http://medicaltranscriptionexpandproductive.blogspot.com/ ? This person is using each key on the keyboard for commonly used words. Is this productive?
Tried using those shortcuts
gave up and I can make money with VR.
You can try ShortCuts for free....sm
http://www.ehti.net
Is there a way to transfer shortcuts...
from Word and Wordperfect to Shorthand. I sure hope, it would save SO much time.
Thanks all!
Sunny
Meditech shortcuts
Use Shorthand9, I think.... I used it with Meditech all of the time for all of my shortcut needs.
ShortCuts for Windows........
AutoCorrect shortcuts
I work at a hospital and my main doctor "Ah's" a lot and changes her mind and has no particular format. She just dictates and I have to put where it belongs. We get along fantastic, but I am lucky is I get 120-150 lph. With Psychiatry, I can get 200. However, I have an account on the side in Psychiatry where he speaks very fast and I can keep up so it comes out to about 300. I would be interested in getting some ideas on more shortcuts - as I am sure everyone would if someone would like to share them with us. Do you have a printed list? Or where did you come up with these? Any help is appreciated. TIA.
funny shortcuts
I know there are so many different ways to save Keystrokes and then there are those that "just seem to make sense" but don't necessarily follow any particular rule. One of my favorites is using the first two letters of each word. It strikes me funny sometimes at some of the combinations that result this way. I think two of my funniest are boob for bowel obstruction and pusy for pubic symphysis. Any others that you have? I'm looking for humor this Monday.
if you are on XP, Shortcuts For Windows
Keyboard shortcuts in IT
Just be aware that Alt/ puts Instant Text into full layout and when you are in full layout, Instant Text expands in the Editor window of the IT program, and not in the word-processor you may be using.
Another keyboard shortcut like Alt- minimizes Instant Text and you don't see the advisories anymore. However, you stay linked and IT would still expand.
Also, make sure you don't have another Expander running at the same time.
making shortcuts. sm
click on START - ALL PROGRAMS - Right click on program you want on desktop (make sure it is the program, not just the folder - if it has an arrow, keep clicking until you get to the actual program) After you right click on it, select SEND TO, then click on DESKTOP (create shortcut).
Keyboard shortcuts
Google MSWord keyboard shortcuts and there you go. Save it to your desktop. There are shortcuts for Word 2002 and 2003.
You can do that with any keyboard if you know the shortcuts.
I love my Logitech cordless, but it's the keyboard shortcuts that keep you from using the mouse, not the keyboard itself. Am I misunderstanding your question?
Keyboard shortcuts
I am new to MT and am lucky enough to have a job where I can learn as I go. I wanted to see if someone can tell me some of the keyboard shortcuts, like ctrl + B for bold, or function key information so that I can use the keyboard more and my mouse less.
Thanks for your help!
New MT in Ohio 
ExText shortcuts
Does anyone know a shortcut to get to AutoCorrect? So far, all I've been able to do is stop and point my mouse and click on the icon on the tool bar, which really slows me down. I'm tring to put more abbreviations in there, as my word Expander is getting pretty full.
Radnet F9 shortcuts
Does anyone know how to add to the shortcuts in RadNet F9.
Word Shortcuts
I just recently started working in VR. I know have to move one word at a time using SHIFT + CONTROL + ARROW. I also know how to highlight the whole line. I am wondering if there is any way to highlight more than one word at a time without highlighting the whole line. Thanks!
Word Shortcuts
I just recently started working in VR. I know have to move one word at a time using SHIFT + CONTROL + ARROW. I also know how to highlight the whole line. I am wondering if there is any way to highlight more than one word at a time without highlighting the whole line. Thanks!
Does anyone use PRD or Shortcuts word expanders? .....nm
xx
Books on shortcuts and macros...
Know of any books on shortcuts and macros other than "saving keystrokes?" Thanks.:)
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